Snow Holiday

"Mommy I want to go back at our holiday." Me too buddy. Me too. 

We made it to Queenstown in some of the countries worse weather. It was a pretty easy drive and Max did awesome. We had a good time being low key, walking through the shops, catching up with old friends, going out to dinner, and watching rugby on TV in the hotel. If you ask Max his favourite part of vacation he answers, "Watching wugby in TV at holiday hotel."  Thanks to our parents for helping us get away. We love you guys!

The drive to Queenstown

Hotel fun

Welcome to Queenstown! Max loved the ice skating rink. 

Throwing rocks. 

Out to dinner 

Watching rugby

Momma getting her Starbucks

Max and I walked to Starbucks each morning. It was SO cold but we loved our little dates. 

Silly boy

 Ice sculpture 

Freezing 

Max's new gum boots/snow boots and new gloves. Plus we had to teach Max how to wear his zipper all the way pulled up. 

He was fascinated by the ice sculpture 

And this wagon. Ha!

Finding puddles on our way home to splash in. 

Half a Year Done!

I live my life hoping to cross things off my list. Dunedin is no different. While I can't cross "live in the coldest city ever that has no summer" off the list for a few years I must break it down. We have finished one year of school. Check. Did that in February. Now we have finished one half of the hardest most competitive year. Check!!!! 

I wasn't sure I was going to make it this last three weeks. I'm not even sure what that statement means. If I don't make it do I die? Whatever I digress. I really had a rough few weeks. Chats to Hayley helped. Mass amounts of Starbucks helped. A lot of running did wonders. Max having a baby sitter was the kindest thing I could do for him so I did it a lot! 2 hour conversation with Sea Jay refilled my soul. 

But now we are done. Sam and I both are beyond tired for very different reasons. Max is finally in bed and now we wait. We wait for results that will determine the next few years. We wait for refreshing after a horribly hard season. We wait for connection after doing life next to each other. We wait for energy after exhaustion has taken us over. 

Max and I arrived home after Sam's three hour physics exam (to which he lovingly referred to it as three hours of hell) and we did what we needed to do. Max and Sam went to the rugby field and kicked rugby balls for two hours. I went on a semi short run and got my fastest time and then spent the next hour on social media in the car at the rugby field. 

I'm so happy Sam's finished with this semester. He's incredible. He could have taken the easy road and found something in medicine that wasn't as daunting. He could have not tried for fear of failing. He could have just lived a mediocre life with a "what if" always in the back of his head. But he didn't. He risked. He stepped up and he will be different for it. 

4.24 miles 39 minutes 9:15 min/mile my personal best

Living the dream at the rugby field. 

Addiction

We all have them. Some are good. Some are bad. They are that thing we can't live without. Our happy place. Instant joy. 

Max's addiction = rugby

We watch it at least once a day, most weekends we are at a field, we kick more times than I can count, we pretend to be a different rugby player at any given moment of the day. 

I love his passion. I love that he is getting into a hobby already. I love that he told me what happened on Sunday in a game...and was right. I love seeing his joy when we pass the field and people are playing or when we pass the stadium and he talks about going to see "his" Highlanders. 

He's had a fever on and off for 2 days. In the midst of that he still mustered up the energy to practice kicks and tackle daddy. It's his world right now. Tonight he said, "Can I sleep with my All Black flag?" Of course! This picture sums up his great personality. 

Exams.

They are here. With a vengeance. I have been surviving...barely somedays but hanging in there. The weather has been an unreal cold, which I don't mind outside of the house but man it kills me still to freeze in the hallway, bathroom, & bedrooms. How in the world is it okay to see your breath in the bathroom?!?! I will never understand this. 

I have had a pretty low week combined with a broken washer followed 3 days later with a broken dryer. Not my best week. I love my dryer. I hate crunchy clothes. I laughed then went to bed at 7 seeing the freezing house and loss of a dryer combo was more than I could handle. 

The weeks before exams I feel inspired, encouraged, brave and ready to support, carry more of the load and do it with a smile. Team work makes the dream work. Then it comes and this part of the team seems to fall apart. After a week of anger, resentment and bitterness and a whole lot of tears this morning I woke up early and God's kindness was present. I was reminded of the moment we were led to Medicine. Together. As a team. With a dream for our family. God's patience and love and goodness are real. While I can't explain it I can feel it.  I couldn't get out of my hole this week on my own. I just couldn't. 

Sometimes it takes an internal drive to keep going. Strength that has been earned through growing times. Other times the supernatural force is what moves you beyond the moment and helps you see the future. Hope. 

While I was wallowing this last week life dealt me a few moments of humor. I got a baby sitter for Max quite a few times. On Friday I NEEDED a run. My family needed me to go on a run. Anna played with Max while I jogged off to push the crazy away for a few minutes. I was having a great run. It was semi warm, sunny, and I had all the time in the world. I was about a mile and a half (1k) in and I dropped my car clicker. Between an inch opening. Ugh!!! I walked around to the front of the building silently screaming that my run to destress was ruined. Perfect. The other side? An abandoned business. Brilliant. I tried getting my hand and wrist under. While laying on the ground in sweaty work out clothes. Did I mention it was on a busy road? My wrist is cut and my hands are filthy. After ten minutes of trying I finally called Sam. The last thing I wanted to do was bug him or face my airheadness and tell him. Not my best moment. In minutes he was fixing the problem. Climbed the fence only to find said fence was one of two separated by about a hands length. He then went to the front climbed a fence and found it! Whew!! I love his ability to problem solve anything. 

I ran back to the museum where Max was hanging out to find a very happy boy who wasn't ready for me to return. I love babysitters! I love Anna!! 

Sam has two exams left and then he waits for his grades. We are still waiting to sort some paperwork out that determines his next few years. Step by step is the journey.